Tifa sat next to Elena on the floor by the sofa as they watched over three small kittens, their eyes still closed. Yuffie lay on the sofa, once again unconscious. She had lost consciousness again after seeing Tseng and hadn't woken since.
"Hey girls, how are the kitten's doing?" questioned Rufus as he walked towards the two. He, as well as Rude, Tseng and Vincent were working on cleaning out the spare room. Such was where Vincent would sleep, as he'd be residing in Rufus' room. Now that the former president was back he has reclaimed his room. Tifa had decided to stay with him as well, not that such was a surprised to any of them. Karia would now be staying with Reno, so the red head had decided, and he'd disappeared with the woman into his room as soon as they'd gotten back.
"They seem to be alright," she replied as she turned to look at the blond. Riane jumped off the sofa, where she'd been cuddling next to Yuffie and walked over to Rufus. She let out a small mew, Rufus took the hint and picked her up. Smiling at the brunette as the kitten perched herself on his shoulder he continued to walk into the kitchen where he got a saucer of milk for her. The kitten jumped off his shoulder and wound herself around his legs a couple times as she could smell the liquid. Purring loudly as Rufus set the saucer before her she began to lap at it quicky. Grabbing two glasses of water Rufus left the feline and walked back to Tifa who once again, along with Elena, had busied herself taking care of the kittens. Tifa smiled as the blond passed her the water. She gladly took a sip, then offered the rest to Elena.
"So what are you two doing any way?" questioned Rufus. The women before him had several pieces of wood, some finishing nails and a hammer. A box like shape was starting to show, yet he remained baffled.
"What does it look like to you, huh?" snapped Elena as she hit the male in the knee and smiled as he flinched then shot her an evil look.
"Well you definitely haven't changed ‘Lena," stated Rufus.
"We're making a box," Tifa stated finally as she looked up, only to find the former president somewhat sulking. "Oh she didn't hit you that hard Rufus."
"Aw my pity act didn't work?" he grinned then ruffled Tifa's hair. "Any way, yeh, a box I figured, but what for?"
"The kittens!" beamed Elena. "Go get a blanket Rufus, Tifa's almost done the box any way."
"Yes Ma'am," he replied, fearing he'd get another swat from the vicious blond, she really was stronger than she looked.
As Rufus walked away Elena poked a finger into Tifa's side, and watched her jump."Oh this is too much fun!" she exclaimed. Leaning into Tifa she smiled, "see, he's an easy boy to handle, you won't have a problem." The two girls started to giggle, then finally calmed. Rufus soon reappeared with the blanket and again the two girls started to giggle uncontrollably. Shaking his head he went back to help Vincent, Rude and Tseng clear out the room.
"Ah ha! All finished" exclaimed Elena as she set the blanket in the box Tifa has constructed.
"It's not much, but it'll hold them for now," stated Tifa. "Besides, we can't leave them sleeping with Yuffie, who knows when she'll wake and we don't want her rolling onto them."
Nodding in agreement Elena went and picked up the three furry bundles then returned and set them in the box. When they'd arrived she and Tifa had taken them and washed the mako from their fur. Shaking her head, she smiled again. After what they'd gone through earlier this day you'd think they would have more to worry about than some feline's. But truth be told there wasn't much else to do. Reno had disappeared into his room with Karia, coming out only once to grab some cloths a towel and a dish of water and hadn't been seen since. He stopped answering calls and knocks long ago and figuring he had things under control he'd since been left alone with Karia. The remaining males had gone off to clean the storage room out, much to Rufus' protest mind you. Tifa and herself had first attended to Yuffie and found that other than being unconscious, she appeared to be in perfect health. Thus, there were left with nothing better to do than tend to the kittens. They were still unconscious, yet their breathing was stable, like Yuffie, they would need time. Elena subconsciously held a hand to her stomach, she wondered to herself when the time would come when everyone noticed the changes in her. Some small notes had been made, but all in all no one thought a thing. Not that she could blame them, she didn't expect them too. She felt herself changing though, and she had to admit she liked such.
A door creaked and Elena snapped out of her daze. Looking behind herself she watched as a less than sure Karia emerged, she was shaking slightly. Tifa looked on as well. As Karia further derived from the bedroom the concerned red head came in view as he followed at her side. She steadied herself by holding onto his wrist.
"She doesn't look so well.." whispered Elena to Tifa.
"She's just weak I think.. Worn out.." She replied.
"Not that I can blame her.." Elena looked away for a moment, "Reno is stuck to her like glue.. It's odd to see him in such a state."
"‘Ria are you sure you'll be okay?" questioned Reno as the fighter removed her hand from his wrist and took a couple steps, then looked back at him.
"I'm always fine, I'm sure I can handle having a shower on my own," she huffed.
"But what's the fun in that?" he grinned.
Elena rolled her eyes, "I take my last statement back, Reno is not acting odd.. He's his ever loving hormone driven jerk self, as usual." Turning away she decided to go check on how the cleaning of the room was going. Tifa snickered to herself as she turned back to see Reno once again with a concerned look on his face, conversing with Karia. Oh Elena you were right the first time.. This is no ordinary behavior. He really can surprise you at times.
"Oh Reno!" exclaimed Karia as she set a hand on her hip and frowned.
"Calm down I'm just joking," he assured her as he grabbed onto her arm and they walked around the corner to the door of the bathroom. "I just don't want anything to happen to you.." he continued. "You're not always okay, even though you say you are, you know you're not. Everyone needs help at some point." He scratched the back of his head and looked away from the female before him. Saying such things and acting like he was, it was very foreign to him, and he expected such would remain for quite some time.
"Does that include you?" she asked in response.
Hesitating for a moment he looked back at her, then took a sudden interest in his foot for a moment, then once again looked back at her. ".. Yeah, that includes me.." he replied, almost seemingly defeated. "But just don't tell anyone that," he added in finish and smirked.
"How difficult you are," she shook her head then turned to go in the bathroom but was stopped as Reno once again grabbed onto her forearm. "Reno I said I co–mnph!" She was silenced as he moved forward and kissed her. Getting over the surprise she finally kissed back and then he pulled away.
"Give me a shout if you need anything beautiful," with that he turned and bounded down the stairs.
Karia just shook her head again, "I swear, that man is never going to grow up."